Local council abuse on parking slots

While the Labour Party continuously accuses the government of abuses and corruption, it refuses to admit the abuses and scandals that abound in Labour-led local councils.

On many occasions, these abuses are reported in the media but it seems there is no end to this new system of friends of friends and the government seems reluctant to deal with these abuses effectively.

The latest abuse here in Paola is the allocation of reserved parking slots without the necessary permits from Transport Malta with the consequence that car owners in the locality are finding it more difficult to park their cars. This practice is illegal and abusive and the authorities would do well to bring it to an end. The recent additions to these illegal reserved parking slots are in Mater Boni Consilii Street and St Joseph Street, both in Paola. It seems that the council member in charge of this work was informed that these slots are illegal. His answer to neighbours' objections was that if they removed these, they would have to remove all the rest.

It is unbelievable how this government is dedicating more power to the local councils when they have not yet learnt their basic duty of just keeping their localities clean. Many of the councils are being run like local clubs, of course with more power, having the taxpayers' money to squander.

I am writing this in the hope that these abuses will be curtailed and responsible council members will be held accountable for their deeds. Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said would do well to take stock of the situation and stop giving them more responsibilities. Councils have not even learned how to walk, let alone run. In the present financial difficulties, Dr Said should allocate the money where it is really needed.